Stanchion.



PATBNTED JAN. 3 1905.

E. PRESCOTT. STANCHION.

APPLICATION FILED JULY 31, 1903.

UNTTED STATES Patented January 3, 1905.

PATENT OFFICE.

VSTANCHION.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 779,001, dated January 3, 1905.

Application filed July 31, 1903. Serial No. 167,683-

170 (bi/Z whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, EDWIN PRESCOTT, a citizen of the United States, and a resident of Arlington, in the county of Middlesex and Cornmonwealth of Massachusetts, have invented an Improvement in Stanchions, of which the following description, in connection with the accompanying drawings, is a specification, like letters on the drawings representing like parts.

My invention relates to stanchions of the general type illustrated by my United States Patents No. 619,222, dated February 7, 1899, and No. 699,411, dated May 6, 1902.

My said invention aims to improve the devices for locking the movable stanchion member in operative position and for limiting its outward movement into receiving position; also, to providemeans for maintaining the alinement of the movable member at all times and for properly guarding the open space between adjacent stanchions, so as to prevent the animal entering its head therein. These, with other features of my invention, will be more clearly understood from a description of the best embodiment of my invention now known to me, and which is illustrated in the accompanying drawings, wherein Figure 1, in front elevation, shows one of my improved stanchions and parts of adjacent stanchions, and Fig. 2, on an enlarged scale, a view from the dotted line 2 2, Fig. 1, looking down upon the top of the stanchion proper.

In the embodiment of my invention illustrated in the drawings the stanchion-frame comprises vertical frame members A A, connected top and bottom, respectively, by the horizontal. members B C.

The stanchion proper comprises the top and bottom members a a, connected by the upright, preferably parallel, membersb b. The upright member 5 is rigidly positioned between the top and bottom stanchion members, while the upright member 5 is movably connected therewith, it being herein pivotally connected to the bottom member a at 6 whereby it may be swung outward into its dotted position, Fig. 1, to admit the head and horns, for instance, of a cow and after-ward be returned to its full-line position behind the cows head and horns to retain her in the stall. The upper stanchion member a is herein extended to one side beyond the rigid upright member 6 and has its end joined to the corresponding, though not extended, end of the bottom member a by a preferably inclined guard g. The stanchion is rotatively. and swingingly suspended at its top by a single bolt (Z. engaging a suspension-plate d,

provided therefor on the frame member B,

and since the whole weight of the stanchion is by this construction received by the top stanchion member a the inclined member g fulfils in the present instance the added function of a brace to prevent rocking of the said top member (0 upon the end of the rigid upright member 6 as a fulcrum,'thus greatly strengthening and stiffening the structure. At its lower end the stanchion is suitably controlled as by devices shown in my said patent of May 6, 1902, or otherwise, if desired, the same forming no essential part of my present invention.

To the upper end of the movable stanchion member 6 is pivoted at m a long limiting-bar m, provided at its free end at the left, Fig.

- 1, with a lug or stop projection of, which when the said movable member 6 is in its full-line upright position falls behind a locking-plate m", secured to the under side of the extended end of the top stanchion member a. This serves to lock the stanchion member I) in its normal upright position, the lock being rendered secure by a swinging retaining device m, pivoted at on, so that it will gravitate into position over and to prevent lifting of the free end of the limiting device m. By swinging this retaining device m upward into its dotted position, Fig. 1, the end of the limiting-barm is freed and can be lifted clear of the locking-plate m to permit the upright stanchion member I) to swing outward to its dotted position, Fig. 1, until stopped in its outward movement by contact of the same looking or stopping lug m with a limitingplate m, also on the top stanchion member a. The last-mentioned limiting-plate m is preferably of considerable length, as shown, and provided at its outer edge with an upturned lip, which forms a trough-like guideway through which the limiting-bar on may slide,

the said bar thus cooperating with the sides of the trough referred to to form lateral guiding or alining means for not only the limiting-bar itself, but also for the swinging stanchion member 6, to which it is attached. This obviates a fault of stanchions of this type as heretofore constructed, wherein the bar of the member 6 has been permitted to work loose and wabble sidewise during and after swinging movement. A guiding or alining member on also provides a support which cooperates with the limiting member to produce curvilinear movement of the latter on movement of the member 6. Thus when the member 6 is moved to the locking position the projection m on the limiting member is elevated sufficiently to avoid the locking-plate m subsequent movement of the releasing member I), however, causing the descent of the lug m behind the locking-plate m It will be noticed that this alinement or lateral guiding is effected by means wholly within the limits of the stanchion proper when in its normal holding position contradistinguished from a construction-for example, such as in my PatentNo. 619,223where a rigid guiding and limiting loop or yoke projects to a considerable distance to one side of the stanchion when in operative or holding position. With the construction here illustrated when the upright member 6 is in operative position no part of the locking or limiting contrivance projects laterally beyond the limits of the stanchion itself. Consequently there is nothing to be bent or to be struck accidentally by one working about the stalls. The locking-plate m is also preferably made of considerable length in order to catch the free end of the limiting-bar at a point early in its return movement and guide it into proper position under the retaining device 172 and over the locking edge of the said plate without attention on the part of the operator. Obviously the gravity retaining device on will swing before the advancing end of the limiting-bar m, permitting the lug m to drop behind the edge of the locking-plate, after which the said retaining device will gravitate automatically into retaining position.

The inclined member g may serve as a handle to aid in turning or. revolving the stanchion into desired position for any purpose whatsoeveras, for instance, for guiding the movable member 6 when swung outward into position behind theholding device 12, provided therefor upon the frame and which retains the stanchion in proper position to receive the animals head when it enters the stall.

By the construction described the retaining device m which must be turned upward to release the lock, and also the locking-lu g m on the limiting-bar, which must be raised to clear the locking-plate, are brought into the most convenient possible positions to be manipulated by the operator without reaching over the animals head. Furthermore, the lug m as will appear best from Fig. 2, projects laterally to one side of its arm m not only to aid by its contact with the limiting-plate m in limiting the outward movement of the-upright member 5, but also to serve as a handle by which the operator may control the outwardswinging movement of the upright member 6 or may draw thesaid member inward to its normal upright position.

With a stanchion of this sort used for holding cows and the like the inclination of the member or bar g serves to prevent the cows horns, 'as when raising and lowering her head in the act of rubbing the neck, from contacting with the locking and limiting devices and damaging them or releasing them to free the head.

The limiting-rod m is prevented from jump ing out of its trough-like guide in the plate m by suitable means, which may be one or both of the rivet or bolt heads m which se-- cure said plate to the top stanchion member a.

The shoulder-operated pivot-releasing contrivance c is shown for the sake of completeness, but is not herein described, as it is essentially such as fully described in my said Patent No. 619,222 and my later patent, No. 699,411, to both of which reference may he had if a fuller description is desired.

What I claim as new, and desire to secure by Letters Patent, is-

1. A movable stanchion provided with normally upright members one of which has releasing movement relative to the other and a third, guiding and alining member arranged at one side of said upright members and movable with the stanchion as a whole.

2. A movable stanchion comprising upright -members movable with the stanchion as a whole, one of said members having also releasing movement relative to the other and an inclined member at the opposite side of said upright members and movable with the stanchion.

3. A stanchion comprising connected upright members, one of which has releasing movement relatively to the other, a slidable locking member secured to one of said members, locking means upon the other of said members, and an automatic movable retaining device to retain said locking member in its locking position.

In testimony whereof I have signed my name to this specification in the presence of two subscribing witnesses.

EDWIN PRESCOTT.

Witnesses:

FREDERICK L. EMERY, EVERETT S. EMERY. 

